School is back in session across Walton County, but for a growing number of families, the first week of classes looks different. Instead of yellow buses and traditional classrooms, students are starting their year in barns, gardens, charter campuses, or small, independent schools. Homeschooling, micro-schools, and charter programs are reshaping what “back to school” means in the community.
In this episode, Kerri Parker speaks with Cecilia Canut about the initiatives of Keep Walton Beautiful, a program dedicated to enhancing the environment of Walton County through community engagement, litter prevention, and sustainability efforts.
For decades, the pulse of Walton County has beat strongest near its sugar-white southern beaches. But a new crescendo is rising north of the bay: in Freeport and DeFuniak Springs, years of quiet are giving way to a booming rhythm of growth. These towns are evolving beyond scenic drive-throughs—they’re emerging as vibrant hubs of commerce and community.
On Friday morning, August 1, 2025, a large crowd gathered for a moment years in the making as the City of DeFuniak Springs officially cut the ribbon on a brand-new terminal at its municipal airport. Former Florida Senator George Gainer, Representative Shane Abbott, and a long list of state and local officials were on hand to celebrate the $8.4 million project, which marks a major phase in the airport’s long-term expansion plan.
In this episode we connect you with Christian Wagley, a science-rooted environmental advocate working with Healthy Gulf organization. Christian brings a deeply personal connection to this work, sharing a childhood memory fishing with his grandfather —when he first witnessed the loss of a thriving yellow perch population to pollution. That early experience ignited a lifelong commitment to protecting water and communities. In this conversation, we explore what it means to pursue science-driven advocacy and how that expertise is rooted in place.
